Orlando Police Chief Val Demings' department-issued gun was stolen from her agency sport utility vehicle parked in front of her home, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Demings said she usually doesn't leave her gun in the car, but did on the night of Feb. 27, because she and her husband were expecting guests for the weekend who had young children, the newspaper reported.
The break-in and theft were reported the same day to the sheriff's office, but the incident only became public this week after the Orlando Sentinel received a tip.
"It was devastating enough for me to be the victim of a crime and have my service weapon stolen after 25 years on the job," Demings told the newspaper in a telephone interview. "I need to do everything possible to get my gun off the street."
Police guns are allowed to be kept in the trunk or passenger compartments of a car, as long as they are out of plain view, Demings told the Orlando Sentinel.
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